Page 258 of A Song for You

Ode to a Conversation by Del Water Gap

Boxes and wrapping paper litter the wooden floor of our apartment as the London Eye sparkles outside the window. As incredible as the scene is, it’s no match for the one playing out in front of me. The Christmas tree next to the window glitters almost as brightly as my husband’s smile as he watches Chloe open another present.

“How many outfits did you buy her?” Garreth teases, although he has no room to talk. The man bought our daughter a car.

She’s twelve.

He says it’s for her driver to take her around in.

As if she needs her own driver.

I swear these Hanson men get more ridiculous by the minute.

“Like the apartment?” Hayden slides a wineglass toward me.

I greedily gulp half of its contents before replying. Because this isn’t just an apartment. It’s our apartment. As in, it belongs to Jay and me. A place he recently bought, sight unseen, so we’d have somewhere to spend Christmas.

It’s ridiculous. One does not need their own apartment for a two-week vacation.

But now I realize it’s about more than that. With both of his brothers here, Jay is getting something that he has never had. Christmas with his own family. Doesn’t seem so ridiculous when he lights up at the rare smile Garreth offers him. Or how his expression fills with pride when Chloe wraps her arms around his neck. Or when he winks at me from across the room while I chat with his brother. The man has wanted and ached and worked his fingers to the bone to have a family for years, and he deserves every moment of this overly extravagant vacation.

He deserves everything.

“It’s a very nice apartment.”

Hayden chuckles. “He’s just excited to finally have you both here.”

I nod. “I know. And we’re happy to be here.”

“How was Christmas with your family?” A tender expression crosses his face while he waits for my response. During the time Grace and Cash were broken up, Hayden and Grace started up a friendship that I think he wished could be more. Now that Grace is pregnant and she and Cash are working through their issues, it leaves him on the outside.

I squeeze his hand. “It was good. Rough,” I laugh softly and roll my eyes. “But good.”

“Your brothers good to you?” he asks in a protective way that makes me feel like I can be honest.

I shrug and blow out a harsh breath. “It’s hard because Cash has always been my best friend. And over these last few months, the man you’ve seen? That’s not him.” I have to hold back the tears as I face him directly. “I’m sorry if you got hurt.”

Christmas was different from years past. Carter and Cash were on edge, and Chase is still missing. But since Grace joined us, it wasn’t as awkward as it could have been.

Cash chose to focus on her pregnancy, and he was civil with Jay for once. My grandfather was able to join us for dinner, but he and Jay kept their distance. I know my husband is upset with him. Hell, I’m upset with him. But I hope in the future, things can change. That one day we can all sit in a room like this, warm and cozy with all the ones we love.

Hayden frowns. “Not hurt. Disappointed, maybe. Honestly, anyone could see she was hung up on your brother. I truly hope they work it out. She deserves to be happy.”

“So do you.”

Hayden’s focus returns to the floor where Chloe and Jay are now lying together, both wearing looks of concentration as they study the screen of Jay’s phone, picking out a song. I love that they bond over music just as much as Jay and I do.

Hayden swipes at his pants before he gets ready to stand. “Not sure that’s in the cards for me.”

“Jay says you have a best friend,” I hedge, not really sure where I’m going but feeling like maybe he needs to talk about it.

Hayden pauses as he turns to me, his brows knitting together. “Yeah, Anna.” The way he says her name, like the thought of her steals his breath, is reverent, devout. Like it’s a one-word prayer.

I test out her name. “Anna.” Hmm. I nod. “And where is Anna this week? Will I meet her?”

Hayden grimaces, but he quickly wipes the expression from his face and lets out another deep sigh. “She’s with her fiancé. But yeah, I’m sure she’ll be around.”

The plot thickens.